I spent some time yesterday at Icon on Bond, the first time since shortly after its completion that I had set foot in the place. As an apartment building, it sets a pretty high bar with solid construction and first-rate trim.

As a condo project, a place where people were asked to make a long-term investment, the building is pretty Bland Rapidian.

Tiny balconies and a street-front facade that seems designed to emulate a bricked-up building were strange choices given the property was a clean slate that didn't need to be encumbered by such shortcomings.

Given the choice, I would have picked the unbuilt Tall House or 240 Ionia designs over what we ended up with at Icon.

Having more than 100 well-built housing units downtown, regardless of their struggles in the current market, will prove considerably better than another addition to the Rendering Graveyard.

Who knows? With the county, Press, city and Quality Auto properties between Icon and the river practically begging for a mixed use project at some point in the future, Icon may end up in the heart of some very cool things in the North Monroe district.